Mediagazer: Facebook says it generated ~5.1B free referrals to Australian publishers worth ~AU$407M last year, as Australia's Media Bargaining law passes the House (Reuters and Associated Press)

7:40 PM ET, February 17, 2021

Top News:

William Easton / About Facebook:

Ahead of proposed media law, Facebook says it's banning Australians from sharing/viewing news and all users from sharing from and viewing Australian news Pages — In response to Australia's proposed new Media Bargaining law, Facebook will restrict publishers and people in Australia from sharing …

Campbell Brown / Facebook:

Facebook News Partnerships VP: Australia's planned law “fails to recognize ... the fundamental nature of the relationship between our platform and publishers” — Today we made an incredibly difficult decision to restrict the availability of news on Facebook in Australia.

Reuters and Associated Press:

Facebook says it generated ~5.1B free referrals to Australian publishers worth ~AU$407M last year, as Australia's Media Bargaining law passes the House — - Facebook will no longer allow people in Australia to read or share news — The move is a response to the country's proposed Media Bargaining law

Discussion: @andrewbrownau, news.com.au, The Guardian, The Independent, @kantrowitz, @joshgnosis, @joshgnosis, The Western Journal, @acookiecrumbles, @caseybriggs, @caseybriggs, 9News, Reuters, New York Post and @emilybell, more at Techmeme »

Damien Cave / New York Times:

Australia's concentrated media industry, dominated by News Corp, is aligned with the prime minister and has sought compensation from tech companies for years — Pathbreaking legislation showed that even a small nation can get the tech giant to bend. But the United States seems unlikely to follow.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Press Gazette, Press Gazette, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times, Politico, CNBC and @alfonslopeztena

News Corp:

News Corp announces a multi-year, global partnership with Google to provide content from its news sites “in return for significant payments by Google” — Long-term Deal Involves Payment For Premium Content For Google News Showcase; — Will Yield Substantial Benefits For Journalism And Society

Discussion: @jeffjarvis, news.com.au, MediaPost, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Garbage Day, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Sydney Morning Herald, @mathewi, The Guardian, @b_fung, @kerrymflynn, @jeffjarvis, NBC News, Financial Times, @cp24, @deadline, @jerusalem_post, nexttv.com, Politico, @kylieedo, @damiencave, @ilpomodoro2, @jeffjarvis, @jeffjarvis, @maxboot, @aubreybelford, @mmasnick, @jayrosen_nyu, @sub8u, @presseschauer, @laukaya, @gcberg, @hillbrad, @davidmackau, The Hill, @senficon, @jeffjarvis, @jeffjarvis, @slpng_giants, @noahshachtman, @mohamed, @sarafischer, Insider, @rasmus_kleis, @kateo, @kerrymflynn, @tiffanydcross, @clarajeffery, @lee__drake, @jeffjarvis, New York Times, @kimbere640, @kerrymflynn, @davidmwessel, @joshsternberg, @nandoodles, @kerrymflynn, @deniseshrivell, @davidcayj, @markhughesfilms, @jeffjarvis, @jason_kint, @djjasong, @devrelcallum, @jason_kint, @mcclure111, @sammonford, @bryson_m, @brianstelter, @jeffjarvis and @jason_kint, more at Techmeme »

Zoe Samios / Sydney Morning Herald:
Sources: Google has agreed to pay Nine Entertainment, owner of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, more than $30M/year for news content in a 5-year deal

Discussion: @rasmus_kleis, @phillutton78 and @shiannonc

Brian Flood / Fox News:

Rush Limbaugh has died at the age of 70 after a battle with lung cancer — Limbaugh's death, following Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis, announced by family — Fox News Flash top headlines for February 17 — Rush Limbaugh, the monumentally influential media icon who transformed talk radio …

Discussion: @pastpunditry, New York Times, The Wrap, HuffPost, @jessbravin, CNN, NPR, The Wrap, Insider, Slate, @ichotiner, Axios, @drjeffreypjones, The Daily Beast, @brianros1, Breitbart, Mediaite, The Hill, New York Post, @tpm, @johnjcook, Los Angeles Times, @froomkin, Press Watch, The Corsair, MediaPost, CNN, @adamgoldmannyt, @maxwelltani, New York Post, @jessicavalenti, @kayleighmcenany, @glennbeck, @jbouie, @mattoswaltva, New York Times, @sentomcotton, @joelpollak, @govkristinoem, @bessbell, Washington Post, @atrupar, @froomkin, @titonka, @nowthisnews, 6abc, @brithume, @jeffjarvis, @dylanmatt, Las Vegas Review-Journal, @franklin_graham, @greenfield64, @byyourlogic, @ichotiner, Newser, @froomkin, @rhetoricpj, @judgejeanine, @brianstelter, @maureenjohnson, @mattwalshblog, CITIZEN FREE PRESS, @ashleyfeinberg, @diamondandsilk, The National Pulse, @jackmirkinson, @akilahobviously, Power Daily, @melaniatrump, Al Jazeera, @janecoaston, Insider, @bug_gwen, @johnastoehr, @randpaul, @maragay, @dylanbyers, @juddlegum, @rothschildmd, @tomnamako, @letsgomathias, @froomkin, @the_law_boy, @brianstelter, @grynbaum, @nigel_farage, @davidklion, @williamturton, @brianstelter, @heerjeet, @oliverdarcy, @brianstelter, @sharpe222, @allison_burnett, @cwarzel, @drpaulgosar, @mehdirhasan, @bro_pair, Deadspin, @janicedean, @mehdirhasan, @atrupar, @jessicavalenti, @cameron_kasky, Reuters, @pastpunditry, @scrowder, @oliverdarcy, @froomkin, @goldengateblond, @senrickscott, @jparkabc, @yamiche and @christnnitemare

ProPublica:

ProPublica says Richard Tofel, its founding general manager and president since 2013, will retire from the company when a successor is found — ProPublica announced today that Richard Tofel, its founding general manager and president since 2013, will retire from the company when a successor is in place …

Discussion: @dicktofel, @sulliview, @davidfolkenflik, @agolis, @craignewmark, @emmacarew, @celrae, @ericuman, @jonathanalter and @nsbarsky

Erik Wemple / Washington Post:

CNN nullified its rule that prevented Chris Cuomo from covering Andrew Cuomo when the Gov. was flying high, only to invoke it during the nursing home scandal — On his Monday night CNN program, host Chris Cuomo provided an update on the biggest story of the past year.

Discussion: CNN, New York Times, New York Post, TheBlaze, @jgrantaddison and @jessemckinley

Darrell Etherington / TechCrunch:

YouTube says it will expand Shorts, its TikTok rival in beta in India, to the US in coming weeks, announces plans for 2021 including expanding in-video shopping — YouTube has a host of big product updates coming this year, and it just detailed a lot of them in a blog post from Chief Product Officer Neal Mohan.

Discussion: MediaPost, YouTube Official Blog, The Streamable, /Film, Android Police, Fast Company, @mattnavarra, The Verge, @fwiz and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Bloomberg:
YouTube says YouTube Kids app now has 35M weekly users and launches new tools for creators to make money from their fans, including an applause feature

Discussion: @lucas_shaw

Anne Steele / Wall Street Journal:

iHeartMedia to acquire Triton Digital, which provides audio advertising analytics and measurement services, from Scripps for $230M — Deal for audio advertising analytics and measurement services bolsters radio giant's bet on podcasting — iHeartMedia Inc. has agreed …

Discussion: Variety, Radio & Television …, Insider, The Hill, RAIN News, AdExchanger, @wsj, @tzm_tmt, The Verge and @kerrymflynn

Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:

Alden's audacious lie that it ensures “sustainability of robust local journalism” is evidence of its unsuitability as a newspaper owner — When Alden Global Capital announced Tuesday that it was positioned to buy the Chicago Tribune and several other major newspapers, its statement might have sounded promising.

Discussion: @sulliview, @larryryckman and @melissajpeltier

Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:
Tribune Publishing has agreed to be acquired by Alden Global Capital in a $630M deal; Tribune will become a privately held company; Alden to sell Baltimore Sun

Christopher Dinsmore / Baltimore Sun:
A nonprofit formed by Stewart Bainum Jr., Sunlight for All Institute, is set to acquire The Baltimore Sun, The Capital Gazette, and several other area outlets

Discussion: Columbia Journalism Review, Axios, The NewsGuild - CWA, @aodespair, @ericalg, @ellierushing and @jayrosen_nyu

Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:

Tucker Carlson will develop two new projects for Fox Nation streaming service, including a video podcast and “in-depth specials” called Tucker Carlson Originals — The anchor will host a video podcast for Fox Nation, and will host a series of “in-depth specials” called Tucker Carlson Originals.

Discussion: Fox News Channel Press, The Wrap, @alexweprin, Variety, @mathewi, Fox News, @jonlovett, Mediaite, @alexweprin and @alexweprin

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Greg Evans / Deadline:
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Max Willens / Digiday:
Forbes quietly launched its first-party data platform ForbesOne in 2020, which it says it can be used to reach about 40% of its audience

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Vox Media:
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From Techmeme:

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority:
Source: Google has canceled the development of a second-generation Pixel Tablet, planned for release in 2025, due to concerns that it wouldn't sell very well

The Information:
Sources: OpenAI considered making a browser, discussed deals to power AI features on Samsung devices and search on sites and apps from Condé Nast and others

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple is testing a more conversational version of Siri, dubbed “LLM Siri”, with plans to release it in spring 2026 as part of iOS 19 and macOS 16

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